A watershed is a body of water and everything that drains into it
What are Wetlands?
Wetlands are ecosystems that are saturated with water near the surface. In wetlands, water is the main abiotic resource ("Wetland Definitions" 2006). Types of wetlands include swamps, marshes, and bogs. Wetlands have a variety of unique animals and plants. In addition, they help to absorb water and can prevent flooding, which improves the quality of the watershed they are in. They also filter out the pollutants in the water we use to drink, recharge groundwater, and protect the shorelines from eroding (Cappiella, Kitchell, and Schueler 2006).
What are the types of wetlands?
There are different types of wetlands due to differences in soil and water chemistry, water saturation, topography, climate, and the organisms that live there ("Wetland Definitions" 2006).
Fen. (US Environmental Protection Agency 2006)
Fens are wetlands with peat. Unlike bogs, they are less acidic, have more nutrients, and have more diverse species. Fens usually occur in the northern hemisphere and in areas with low temperatures and short growing seasons. Fens have the ability to prevent flooding and filter out the excess nutrients out of water. Fens have been destroyed for fuel, agriculture, and fertilizer ("Fens" 2006).
Bog located in Alaska. (US Environmental Protection Agency 2006)
Bogs are wetlands with peat, acidic water, and ground covered with moss. Bogs are low in nutrients due to the fact that they get their water from precipitation and not runoff. Bogs are home to unique plants that are adapted to their acidic environments through evolution. Bogs can prevent flooding and have unique organisms. Bogs have been destroyed for their peat, which can be used for fuel ("Bogs" 2006).
A swamp flooded with water located in the southeast. (US Environmental Protection Agency 2006)
Swamps are wetlands that have shallow bodies of water, forests, and shrubs. They are low-lying and are flooded most of the time, except for the growing season, when the soil is saturated. Plants found in swamps include the bald cypress, water tupelo, swamp tupelo, eastern white cedar, red maple, and many more. In addition, there are also a diverse amount of animals such as the pileated woodpecker, the red-shouldered hawk, and the Carolina wren. Generally, swamps can prevent floods and filter out the nutrients. Swamps have rich soil and has high productivity. However, because of their soil, they have been drained for agriculture. The two major categories of swamps are shrub swamps and forested swamps ("Swamps" 2006).
Forested swamps are often flooded with water. Sometimes, the water is still or moving very slowly. The flooding is due to their location near rivers and streams. Many species of animals and trees are depend on the forest swamps ("Swamps" 2006).
Bottomland Hardwood are river swamps found along rivers and streams in southern central US. They are inundated with water for most of the year. Bottomland hardwoods prevent flooding and increase water quality. Many bottomland hardwoods have been destroyed for agriculture ("Bottomland Hardwoods" 2006).
Shrub swamps are like forest swamps, but instead of trees, they have shrubs ("Swamps" 2006).
Mangrove swamps are found in the tropical regions and have salt-loving (halophytic) trees. They occur mostly in estuaries where the fresh water and salt water meet. Mangrove trees are the dominating plants in this wetland. Mangrove swamps offer places for shrimps to nurse their young. They also prevent shoreline erosion and help the inland areas during high tide ("Mangrove Swamps" 2006).
Marshes are wetlands that have tall plants resembling grass with soft stems including cattails, reeds, bulrushes, and saw-grass. They are often flooded with water. Marshes are very productive due to the large amounts of nutrients and the suitable pH. The main categories of marshes are tidal and non-tidal ("Marshes" 2006).
Tidal marsh found along the Edisto River in South Carolina. (Blagden 2006)
Tidal marshes are near the coastlines in places worldwide with medium to high elevation ("Marshes" 2006).
Non-tidal marshes are found in North America and their depths range from a couple of inches to 2-3 feet. The soil is very rich with combinations of sand, clay, and silt ("Marshes" 2006).
The subcategories of marshes are wet meadows, vernal pools, playa lakes, and prairie potholes.
Wet meadows are a type of marsh that result from poorly drained areas. They usually occur in places with a lot of farming. Compared to other marshes, wet meadows receive less precipitation, except during rainy season. When there is a large amount of water, wet meadows can absorb the runoff and reduce the chances for flooding. The plants and soil act as a filter, taking out the extra nutrients. The wet meadows thrive on these nutrients. Throughout history, wet meadows have been destroyed for farming. Today, there are efforts to preserve the wet meadows ("Wet Meadows" 2006).
Vernal pools are seasonal marshes that result from the Mediterranean weather conditions of the West Coast. During the time from winter to spring, vernal pools have shallow water. However, the remaining times of the year, the vernal pools can be dry. Vernal pools' sizes range from small puddles to lakes. The vernal pools have many one-of-a-kind organisms adapted to their environment. Vernal pools are vulnerable and easily destroyed. Currently, there are numerous efforts being made to try to save the vernal pools ("Vernal Pools" 2006).
Playa Lakes are found in the Southern High Plains. They are round valleys in the ground found only at one time in a year. Most playas are dry except after the spring storms. Playas were probably formed by the wind or by sinkholes. Playa lakes can help store water, which has helped many species survive the area of the United States where there is little precipitation and no permanent bodies of water. Many species of plants and animals as well as agriculture depend on the playas. Today, farmers have started to protect the playa lakes, but the playas are still drying out due to farmers using certain techniques ("Playa Lakes" 2006).
Prairie potholes are mostly freshwater marshes found in the Upper Midwest. They are valley wetlands, which in the springtime are filled with melted snow and rain. The prairie potholes exist in a place where the wetlands are one of the most valuable in the world. They are home to many species of birds and they reduce the risks of flooding. However, due to commercial and agricultural developments, prairie potholes have been drained or altered. Less than half of them still exist ("Prairies Potholes" 2006).
What are the functions of wetlands and why are they important?
Wetlands are very productive ecosystems that are home to a variety of unique organisms. Additionally, they provide food for many animals and places for breeding and migration. Wetlands also have a very complicated relationship with watersheds. Wetlands absorb water, prevent flooding, and filter the nutrients out of runoff. Instead of releasing carbon dioxide, it stores carbon and so it helps reverse the effects of global warming ("What are Wetlands?" 2006). Without wetlands, many species would lose theirs home and become extinct. Depending on a species' location on the food chain, its extinction might affect other species, much like the house of cards analogy. Although wetlands seem very isolated, their destruction would harm other ecosystems and organisms everywhere.
For more information concerning watersheds or wetlands, contact these organizations:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Center for Watershed Protection
Delaware River Basin Commission
The Groundwater Foundation
Center for Watershed Protection
PA Department of Environmental Protection
U.S. Geological Survey
Adopt-A-Watershed
What can you do to help?
Encourage state and local government and private landowners to protect the wetlands.
Find out and learn about watersheds in your area and help support education concerning wetlands
Support agencies and organizations trying to protect wetlands and watersheds.
When buying stamps, choose the one with the duck. The money goes to protecting wetlands.
Take part in the Clean Water Act Section 404 program by reviewing and commenting on public notices and permit applications.
Encourage other people to help protect wetlands and watersheds. Educate them about the importance of wetlands.
When deciding whether to destroy a wetland, consider other possibilities that would minimize the effect on wetlands.
When building, choose places without wetlands.
Find out about and support organizations, agencies, and activities that help protect wetlands ("Wetlands Protection" 2006).
Find out ways to prevent contaminated runoff from your home and support organizations that help minimize pollution.
Take a walk along major bodies of water near your home. Take note about anything that seem harmful and contact a local organizations or environmental department to report the situation.
Find out about the effects of land use on watersheds and alternate solutions that will not impact wetlands and watersheds greatly.
Volunteer to help at a local watershed or wetland organization.
Become a volunteer water quality monitor by collecting water quality data.
Take part in the cleanup of streams, beaches, estuaries, or wetland.
Make a habitat for wildlife in a yard.
Protect the sources where we get our drinking water.
Prepare a presentation giving information about wetlands and watersheds and present it to a school.
Make a flyer or anything to grab a person's attention to remind people in your neighborhood about preserving watersheds.
Get more people to know about the importance of watersheds and wetlands ("Fifteen Things You Can Do to Make a Difference in Your Watershed" 2008).
Find ways to decrease the amount of water you use.
Contact local organizations to find out about local problems.
Make contacts to influence public decisions.
When voting, don't forget about protecting wetlands and watersheds ("Vanishing Wetlands").
Watersheds and Wetlands
What are Watersheds?
A watershed is a body of water and everything that drains into itWhat are Wetlands?
Wetlands are ecosystems that are saturated with water near the surface. In wetlands, water is the main abiotic resource ("Wetland Definitions" 2006). Types of wetlands include swamps, marshes, and bogs. Wetlands have a variety of unique animals and plants. In addition, they help to absorb water and can prevent flooding, which improves the quality of the watershed they are in. They also filter out the pollutants in the water we use to drink, recharge groundwater, and protect the shorelines from eroding (Cappiella, Kitchell, and Schueler 2006).What are the types of wetlands?
There are different types of wetlands due to differences in soil and water chemistry, water saturation, topography, climate, and the organisms that live there ("Wetland Definitions" 2006).What are the functions of wetlands and why are they important?
Wetlands are very productive ecosystems that are home to a variety of unique organisms. Additionally, they provide food for many animals and places for breeding and migration. Wetlands also have a very complicated relationship with watersheds. Wetlands absorb water, prevent flooding, and filter the nutrients out of runoff. Instead of releasing carbon dioxide, it stores carbon and so it helps reverse the effects of global warming ("What are Wetlands?" 2006). Without wetlands, many species would lose theirs home and become extinct. Depending on a species' location on the food chain, its extinction might affect other species, much like the house of cards analogy. Although wetlands seem very isolated, their destruction would harm other ecosystems and organisms everywhere.For more information concerning watersheds or wetlands, contact these organizations:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Center for Watershed Protection
Delaware River Basin Commission
The Groundwater Foundation
Center for Watershed Protection
PA Department of Environmental Protection
U.S. Geological Survey
Adopt-A-Watershed
What can you do to help?
Watersheds and Wetlands Standards.
Describe changes that occur from a stream's origin to its final outflow.
Categorize stream order in a watershed.
Explain the relationship among landforms, vegetation, and the amount and speed of water.
Explain the relationship that exist within watersheds in the United States.
Describe the physical characteristics of a stream and determine the types of organisms found in aquatic environments.
Analyze the parameters of a watershed.
Describe the multiple functions of wetland.
Analyze the complex and diverse ecosystems of wetlands.
Identify and describe natural and human events on watersheds and wetlands.
Evaluate the trade-offs, cost and benefits of conserving watershed and wetlands.
Shuxin's Works Cited
Ellie's works Cited
Andrew's Woks Cited